Diurethanes and selective herbicidal agent containing them

ABSTRACT

Diurethanes of the general formula   &lt;IMAGE&gt;   are disclosed, in which R1 is alkyl, alkenyl or haloalkyl, and R2 is phenyl or cyclohexyl or substituted phenyl or cyclohexyl. These compounds show exceptional selective herbicidal activity in particular in tomato cultures, and are most effective in post-emergence treatment.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 044,547, filed June 1, 1979, now abandoned, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 935,106, filed Aug. 21, 1978, now abandoned, which in turn was a continuation application of Ser. No. 849,168, filed Nov. 7, 1977, now abandoned.

The invention concerns new diurethanes, a process for the production of these compounds, as well as a selective herbicidal agent containing them, for preferred use in sowing tomatoes.

The selective herbicidal action of diurethanes is known (DT-PS No. 1,567,151). A satisfactory herbicidal action against weeds especially difficult to control, such as amaranthus, and a sufficient selectivity for sowing tomatoes could not be proven for these urethanes until now.

With the above in view it is the object of the present invention to provide a weed control agent which, when used in post emergence, develops besides a general weed action also an action against weed types more difficult to control while being fully compatible with sowing tomatoes.

According to the invention, this problem is solved by a selective herbicidal agent which is characterized by a content of at least one diurethane of the general formula ##STR2## in which R₁ is alkyl, alkenyl or halogen alkyl, and

R₂ is phenyl, or phenyl or cyclohexyl mono- or poly-substituted, equally or differently, by halogen, trifluoromethyl, alkyl and/or alkoxy.

The diurethanes of the invention are distinguished by a surprisingly great compatibility in particular in sowing tomatoes.

These active substances develop the most favorable action when they are used in post-emergence. The diurethanes of the invention have a broad efficiency.

The herbicidal action extends to many plants, as for example Stellaria, Senecio, Lamium, Centaurea, Amaranthus, Chrysanthemum, Ipomoea, Polygonum and Galium. Besides for sowing tomatoes, there is tolerance for potatoes, cereals, corn, sorghum, and rice.

The quantity used for selective weed control is about 0.5 to 5 kg active substance per hectare.

The diurethanes of the invention can be used either alone, in mixture with one another, or with other active substances.

Depending on the desired purpose, the following herbicidal ingredients, for example, offer themselves to this end; they may optionally be added only just before application of the compounds of the invention: Substituted anilines; substituted aryloxycarboxylic acids and their salts, esters and amides; substituted ethers; substituted arsonic acids and their salts, esters and amides; substituted benzimidazoles; substituted benzisothiazoles; substituted benzothiadiazinone dioxides; substituted benzoxyzines; substituted benzothiazoles; substituted benzothiadiazines; substituted biurets; substituted quinolines; substituted carbamates; substituted aliphatic carboxylic acids and their salts, esters and amides; substituted aromatic carboxylic acids and their salts, esters and amides; substituted carbamoylalkyl-thio- or dithiophosphates; substituted quinazolines; substituted cycloalkylamidocarbonthiolic acids and their salts, esters and amides; substituted cycloalkylcarbonamido thiazoles; substituted dicarboxylic acids and their salts, esters and amides; substituted dihydrobenzofuranyl sulfonates; substituted disulfides; substituted dipyridylium salts, substituted dithiocarbamates; substituted dithiophosphoric acids and their salts, esters and amides; substituted ureas; substituted hexahydro-1H-carbothioates; substituted hydantoins; substituted hydrazides; substituted hydrazonium salts; substituted isoxazole pyrimidones; substituted imidazoles; substituted isothiazole pyrimidones; substituted ketones; substituted naphthoquinones; substituted aliphatic nitriles; substituted aromatic nitriles; substituted oxadiazoles; substituted oxadiazinones; substituted oxadiazolidinediones; substituted oxadiazinediones; substituted phenols and their salts and esters; substituted phosphonic acids and their salts, esters and amides; substituted phosphonium chlorides; substituted phosphonalkyl glycines; substituted phosphites; substituted phosphoric acids and their salts, esters and amides; substituted piperidines; substituted pyrazoles; substituted pyrazolealkylcarboxylic acids and their salts, esters and amides; substituted pyrazolium salts; substituted pyrazolium alkyl sulfates; substituted pyridazines; substituted pyridazones; substituted pyridinecarboxylic acids and their salts, esters and amides; substituted pyridines; substituted pyridine carboxylates; substituted pyridinones; substituted pyrimidones; substituted pyrrolidine carboxylic acids and their salts, esters and amides; substituted pyrrolidines; substituted arylsulfonic acids and their salts, esters and amides; substituted styrenes; substituted tetrahydro-oxadiazinediones; substituted tetrahydromethanoindenes; substituted tetrahydrodiazolethiones; substituted tetrahydro-thiadiazinethiones; substituted tetrahydro-thiadiazolediones; substituted thiadiazoles; substituted aromatic thiocarboxylic acid amides; substituted thiocarboxylic acids and their salts, esters and amides; substituted thiolcarbamates; substituted thiophosphoric acids and their salts, esters and amides; substituted triazines; substituted triazoles; substituted uracils and substituted uretindiones.

Besides other additions may be used as well, for example non-phytotoxic additives which in herbicides may give a synergistic effect, such as wetting agents, emulsifiers, solvents and oily additions.

Appropriately the characterized active substances or their mixtures are employed in the form of preparations, such as powders, scatters, granulated materials, solutions, emulsions or suspensions, with addition of liquid and/or solid vehicles or diluents and possibly wetting, bonding, emulsifying and/or dispersing aids.

Suitable liquid vehicles are, for example, water, aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, such as benzene, toluene, xylene, cyclohexanone, isophorone, dimethylsulfoxide, dimethyl formamide, also mineral oil fractions.

As solid vehicles are suitable mineral earths, for example, siliceous clay, silica gel, talc, kaolin, attaclay, limestone, silica, and plant products, e.g. flours.

Among surface-active substances should be named, for example, calcium-lignin sulfonate, polyoxyethylene alkyl-phenyl ether, naphthalene sulfonic acids and their salts, phenol-sulfonic acids and their salts, formaldehyde condensates, fatty alcohol sulfates and substituted benzene-sulfonic acids and their salts.

The proportion of active ingredient(s) in the various preparations may vary within wide limits. As an example, the agents contain about 10 to 80 weight percent active ingredients, about 90 to 20 weight percent liquid or solid vehicles, and possibly up to 20 weight percent surface-active substances.

The spreading of the agents can be done in the usual manner, e.g. with water as vehicle in spray solution quantities of about 100 to 1000 liters per hectare. Use of the agents in the so-called "Low Volume" or "Ultra Low Volume" processes is as possible as their application in the form of so-called micro-granulates.

Outstanding for superior selective herbicidal action in particular in sowing tomatoes are among the diurethanes of the invention preferably those which correspond to the above stated general formula, wherein R₁ is C₁ -C₄ alkyl, C₂ -C₄ alkenyl, halogen-C₁ -C₄ alkyl and R₂ is phenyl, C₁ -C₃ alkylphenyl, C₁ -C₃ alkoxyphenyl, chlorophenyl, dichlorophenyl, trifluoromethyl or cyclohexyl.

Advantageously there are distinguished among these those compounds where R₁ is ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, chloroethyl, bromoethyl, allyl, and R₂ is cyclohexyl, phenyl, methylphenyl, dimethylphenyl, chlorophenyl, dichlorophenyl, chloro-methylphenyl, trifluoromethylphenyl, methoxyphenyl, fluorophenyl, ethylphenyl, methoxy-methylphenyl.

The diurethanes not previously known in the literature can be produced for example, by (a) reacting the chloroformic acid ester of 3-hydroxycarbanilic acid isobutyl ester ##STR3## with amines of the general formula ##STR4## in the presence of an acid acceptor, for example, with addition of excess amine or an inorganic base, as for example soda lye, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, or a tertiary organic base, as for example triethylamine, or

(b) letting 3-hydroxycarbanilic acid isobutyl ester ##STR5## react in the presence of a tertiary organic base, as for example triethylamine or pyridine, or as alkali salts with carbamoyl chlorides of the general formula ##STR6## at temperatures of 0° to 100° C., or

(c) hydrogenating compounds of the general formula ##STR7## catalytically, for example with the use of nickel in methanol to the corresponding amine and subsequently reacting with compounds of the general formula ##STR8## in the presence of an acid acceptor, for example an inorganic base, such as soda lye, sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate, or a tertiary organic base, as for example triethylamine, to form the desired process products, and then isolating them in the usual manner, R₁ and R₂ having the above meaning.

The following example explains the production of the diurethanes according to the invention.

EXAMPLE 1 4-Chloro-N-methylcarbanilic acid (3-(2-methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl)ester

A solution of 14.2 g (0.1 mole) 4-chloro-N-methylaniline in 100 ml acetic acid ethyl ester is mixed with 50 ml water. Then a solution of 27.2 g (0.1 mole) chloroformic acid-3-(2-methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl ester in 100 ml acetic acid ethyl ester and simultaneously a solution of 13.8 g (0.1 mole) potassium carbonate in 50 ml water is added in drops within 20 minutes while agitating and cooling to 10° to 15° C. Agitation is continued at 15° C. for another 30 minutes. Then the organic phase is separated, washing at 0° C. with dilute soda lye, dilute hydrochloric acid and water. Drying with magnesium sulfate is followed by evaporation under reduced pressure. Recrystallization from acetic acid ethyl ester/pentane.

Analysis: Calculated: C, 60.56%; H, 5.62%; Cl, 9.41%; N, 7.44%. Found: C, 60.67%; H, 5.84%; Cl, 9.49%; N, 7.44%.

In analogous manner the following diurethanes to be used according to the invention can be produced.

    ______________________________________                                         Name of Compound        Physical Constant                                      ______________________________________                                         N--methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methylpropoxy-                                                          M.p.   90-92° C.                                carbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                                   N--ethylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methylpropoxy-                                                           M.p.   107-108° C.                              carbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                                   N--butylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methylpropoxy-                                                           n.sub.D.sup.20                                                                        1.5391                                          carbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                                   N--allylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methylpropoxy-                                                           M.p.   67-69° C.                                carbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                                   N--propylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methylpropoxy-                                                          M.p.   61-62° C.                                carbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                                   N--ethyl-3-methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                         M.p.   90-92° C.                                propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            N--ethyl-3-chlorocarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                         M.p.   95-97° C.                                propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            N--(1-methylethyl)-carbanilic acid-(3-(2-                                                              M.p.   116-118° C.                              methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                      3-Chloro-N--methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-                                                               M.p.   102-104° C.                              methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                      3,N--dimethylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                             n.sub.D.sup.20                                                                        1.5479                                          propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            N--ethyl-4-chlorocarbanilic acid-(3-(2-                                                                M.p.   87-89° C.                                methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                      4,N--dimethylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                             n.sub.D.sup.20                                                                        1.5547                                          propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            4-Ethyl-N--methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-                                                                n.sub.D.sup.20                                                                        1.5529                                          methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                      3,4-Dichloro-N--methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-                                                           n.sub.D.sup.20                                                                        1.5691                                          methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                      N--ethyl-4-methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                         M.p.   82-83° C.                                propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            N--Ethyl-3,4-dichlorocarbanilic acid-(3-(2-                                                            M.p.   94-96° C.                                methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                      4-Chloro-N--methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-                                                               M.p.   65-66° C.                                methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                      N--Ethyl-2-methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-                                                                M.p.   101-103° C.                              methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                      N--(2-methylpropyl)-carbanilic acid-(3-(2-                                                             M.p.   82-84° C.                                methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                      2,N--dimethylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                             M.p.   122° C.                                  propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            N--(2-bromethyl)-carbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                         M.p.   82-83° C.                                propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            N--(2-bromethyl)-3-chlorocarbanilic acid-(3-                                                           M.p.   60-63° C.                                (2-methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl)                                         ester                                                                          N--(2-chlorethyl)-carbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                        M.p.   95-96° C.                                propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            3-Chloro-N--(2-chlorethyl)-carbanilic acid-(3-                                                         n.sub.D.sup.20                                                                        1.5514                                          (2-methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl                                          ester                                                                          N--ethyl-cyclohexylcarbamic acid-(3-(2-                                                                M.p.   107-110° C.                              methyl-propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                     N--cyclohexyl-methylcarbamic acid-(3-(2-                                                               M.p.   122-123° C.                              methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                      N--(2-chloroethyl)-cyclohexylcarbamic acid-                                                            n.sub.D.sup.20                                                                        1.5231                                          (3-(2-methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl)                                      ester                                                                          ______________________________________                                    

These compounds are soluble in acetone, cyclohexanone, acetic acid ethyl ester, isophorone, tetrahydrofurane, dioxane, dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, hexamethyl phosphoric acid triamide, and practically insoluble in water and light gasoline.

The following examples serve to explain the mode of action of the diurethanes to be used according to the invention.

EXAMPLE 2

In the greenhouse, the compounds to be used according to the invention, listed in the table, were sprayed in a quantity of 5 kg active substance per hectare on Sinapis alba as test plant in post-emergence. Three weeks after the treatment, the result was rated, with

0=no action and

4=destruction of the plant.

As can be seen from the table, as a rule destruction of the test plant was achieved.

    ______________________________________                                                                  Post-emergence                                        Name of Compound         Sinapis alba                                          ______________________________________                                         N--methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                                  4                                                     propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            N--ethylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                                   4                                                     propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            N--butylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                                   4                                                     propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            N--allylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                                   4                                                     propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            N--propylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                                  4                                                     propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            N--ethyl-3-methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-                                                                 4                                                     methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                      N--ethyl-3-chlorocarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                          4                                                     propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            N--(1-methylethyl)-carbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                        4                                                     propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            3-Chloro-N--methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                         4                                                     propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            3,N--dimethylcarbanilic acid(3-(2-methylprop-                                                           4                                                     oxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                                N--ethyl-4-chlorocarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                          4                                                     propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            4,N--dimethylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methylprop-                                                          4                                                     oxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                                4-Ethyl-N--methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                          4                                                     propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            3,4-Dichloro-N--methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-                                                            4                                                     methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl ester                                       N--ethyl-4-methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                          4                                                     propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            N--ethyl-3,4-dichlorocarbanilic acid-(3-(2-                                                             4                                                     methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                      4-Chloro-N--methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                         4                                                     propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            N--ethyl-cyclohexylcarbamic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                          4                                                     propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            N--cyclohexyl-methylcarbamic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                         4                                                     propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            N--(2-chloroethyl)-cyclohexylcarbamic acid-(3-(2-                                                       4                                                     methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                      ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 3

In the greenhouse, the plants listed below were treated in post-emergence with a quantity of 3 kg active substance per hectare. As comparison agent was used 3-(methoxycarbonylaminophenyl)-N-(β-methylphenyl)carbamate (according to German Pat. No. 1,567,151). The plants were in the immature stage. The agents were spread as emulsions. The quantity of liquid applied was 500 liter/hectare. After two weeks, the result of the treatment was rated.

0=total destruction

10=no damage.

As is evident from the table, the compounds to be used according to the invention achieved a good weed action at excellent compatibility with sowing tomatoes, while the comparison agent harmed the crop plant, at lesser action.

    __________________________________________________________________________     POST EMERGENCE                                                                 __________________________________________________________________________                            kg                                                                             active                                                                         sub- Sowing                                                                             Stel-     Matri-     Cen- Amaran-              Compounds              stance/ha                                                                           tomato                                                                             laria m.                                                                            Senecio v.                                                                          caria ch.                                                                           Lamium a.                                                                            taurea                                                                              thus                 __________________________________________________________________________                                                               r.                   N--methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methylpropoxy-                                                         3    10  0    0    0    0     0    0                    carbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                                   N--ethylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                                 3    10  0    0    0    0     0    0                    propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            N--butylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                                 3    --  0    0    0    0     0    0                    propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            N--allylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                                 3    10  0    0    0    0     0    0                    propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            N--propylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                                3    --  0    0    0    0     0    0                    propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            Ethyl-3-methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                           3    10  0    0    0    0     0    0                    propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            N--ethyl-3-chlorocarbanilic acid-(3-(2-                                                               3    10  0    0    0    0     0    0                    methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                      3-Chloro-N--methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-                                                              3    10  0    0    0    0     0    0                    methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                      3,N--dimethylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                            3    10  0    0    0    0     1    0                    propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            N--ethyl-4-chlorocarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                        3    10  0    0    0    0     0    0                    propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            4-Ethyl-N--methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                        3    10  0    0    0    0     0    0                    propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            3,4-Dichloro-N--methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-                                                          3    10  0    0    0    0     0    0                    methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                      N--ethyl-4-methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                        3    10  0    0    0    0     0    0                    propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            N--ethyl-3,4-dichlorocarbanilic acid-(3-(2-                                                           3    10  0    0    0    0     0    0                    methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                      4-Chloro-N--methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-                                                              3    10  0    0    0    0     0    0                    methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                      Comparison Agent                                                               3-(Methoxycarbonylaminophenyl)-N--(3'-methyl-                                                         3    0   1    2    0    0     0    4                    phenyl) carbamate                                                              UNTREATED                   10  10   10   10   10    10   10                   __________________________________________________________________________                                                   Alo-                                                    Gal-                                                                               Chrysan-                                                                             Ipo-                                                                               Poly-                                                                               A-  pecur-                                                                             Echino-                                                                             Se- Digi-               Compounds              ium a.                                                                             themum a.                                                                            moea p.                                                                            gonum l.                                                                            vena f.                                                                            us m.                                                                              chloa                                                                               taria                                                                              taria               __________________________________________________________________________                                                                s.                  N--methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methylpropoxy-                                                         0   0     0   0    2   3   2    0   0                   carbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                                   N--ethylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                                 0   0     0   0    3   1   1    0   1                   propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            N--butylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                                 0   0     0   0    3   3   --   0   2                   propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            N--allylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                                 0   0     0   0    4   1   1    0   0                   propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            N--propylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                                0   0     0   0    0   4   0    0   0                   propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            Ethyl-3-methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                           0   0     0   --   0   3   --   3   2                   Propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            N--ethyl-3-chlorocarbanilic acid-(3-(2-                                                               0   0     0   0    5   --  3    1   0                   methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                      3-Chloro-N--methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-                                                              0   0     1   0    5   --  3    2   0                   methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                      3,N--dimethylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                            0   0     0   0    5   3   2    1   0                   propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            N--ethyl-4-chlorocarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                        0   0     1   --   2   3   5    0   1                   propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            4-Ethyl-N--methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                        0   0     3   0    --  5   --   3   2                   propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            3,4-Dichloro-N--methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-                                                          0   0     0   0    4   5   2    0   1                   methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                      N--ethyl-4-methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methyl-                                                        0   0     2   0    5   --  3    0   1                   propoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                            N--ethyl-3,4-dichlorocarbanilic acid-(3-(2-                                                           0   0     0   0    0   --  3    3   --                  methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                      4-Chloro-N--methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-                                                              0   0     0   0    1   3   1    0   3                   methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl) ester                                      Comparison Agent                                                               3-(Methoxycarbonylaminophenyl)-N--(3'-methyl-                                                         0   3     0   4    10  8   8    0   2                   phenyl) carbamate                                                              UNTREATED              10  10    10  10   10  10  10   10  10                  __________________________________________________________________________      0 = Total destruction/10 = no damage                                      

We claim:
 1. Diurethanes of the general formula ##STR9## in which R₁ is alkyl, alkenyl or halogen alkyl andR₂ is phenyl, or phenyl or cyclohexyl mono- or poly-substituted, equally or differently, by halogen, trifluoromethyl, alkyl and/or alkoxy.
 2. A compound as set forth in claim 1, in which R₁ is C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, C₂ -C₄ -alkenyl, halogen-C₁ -C₄ -alkyl and R₂ is phenyl, C₁ -C₃ -alkylphenyl, C₁ -C₃ -alkoxyphenyl, chlorophenyl, dichlorophenyl, trifluoromethylphenyl or cyclohexyl.
 3. A compound as defined in claim 1 which is N-ethyl-3-methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl)ester.
 4. A compound as defined in claim 1 which is N-ethyl-3-chlorocarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl)ester.
 5. A compound as defined in claim 1 which is N-(1-methylethyl)-carbanilic acid-(3-(2-methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl)ester.
 6. A compound as defined in claim 1 which is 3-chloro-N-methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl)ester.
 7. A compound as defined in claim 1 which is 3,N-dimethylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methylpropoxycarbonylamino)phenyl)ester.
 8. A compound as defined in claim 1 which is N-ethyl-4-chlorocarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl)ester.
 9. A compound as defined in claim 1 which is 4,N-dimethylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl)ester.
 10. A compound as defined in claim 1 which is 4-ethyl-N-methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl)ester.
 11. A compound as defined in claim 1 which is 3,4-dichloro-N-methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl)ester.
 12. A compound as defined in claim 1 which is N-ethyl-4-methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl)ester.
 13. A compound as defined in claim 1 which is N-ethyl-3,4-dichlorocarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl)ester.
 14. A compound as defined in claim 1 which is 4-chloro-N-methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl)ester.
 15. A compound as defined in claim 1 which is N-ethyl-2-methylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl)ester.
 16. A compound as defined in claim 1 which is N-(2-methylpropyl)-carbanilic acid-(3-(2-methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl)ester.
 17. A compound as defined in claim 1 which is 2,N-dimethylcarbanilic acid-(3-(2-methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl)ester.
 18. A compound as defined in claim 1 which is N-ethyl-cyclohexylcarbamic acid-(3-(2-methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl)ester.
 19. A compound as defined in claim 1 which is N-cyclohexyl-methylcarbamic acid-(3-(2-methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl)ester.
 20. A compound as defined in claim 1 which is N-(2-chloroethyl)-cyclohexylcarbamic acid-(3-(2-methylpropoxycarbonylamino)-phenyl)ester.
 21. A herbicidal composition comprising about 10 to 80 weight-% of a compound as defined in claim 1 and about 90 to 20 weight-% liquid or solid carrier material administered as a spray solution. 